New Partnership Between Two Leading Advocates of Co-operation Between Universities and Industry

Originally published 16 June 2003

Two of world’s leading advocates of close co-operation between universities and industry have formed a new partnership. The Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), and the University of Warwick’s Warwick Manufacturing Group, have signed an agreement that will double the number of Malaysian students studying each year on the Warwick Manufacturing Group’s Masters degree programmes (from around fifty to one hundred).

Datuk Prof. IR. Dr Mohd Zulkifli. B Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali – the Vice-Chancellor of UTM signed the agreement following a meeting with Warwick Manufacturing Group head Professor Bhattacharyya on Wednesday 11th June 2003. He then took up the opportunity to visit a site belonging to one of WMG’s industrial partners the Land Rover plant in Solihull. Warwick Manufacturing Group recently secured a £70 Million "International Automotive Research Centre" with Ford Motor Company's premium vehicle business group – the Premier Automotive Group – as a lead partner. PAG includes Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover & Volvo.

Malaysia has 19 universities but UTM is seen as the main contributor to the development of Malaysia’s technical expertise.

Warwick Manufacturing Group is part of the University of Warwick. It works with over 500 companies on a global basis to enable businesses to realise their full potential through the application of 'state of the art' business processes, methodologies and technology.